Nativity Ornament Look N Find


I came upon a midnight clear idea while at the craft store. There were these buttons with Christmas and Epiphany characters. They were so sweet, it was inevitable that I should make a craft with them. I am so glad I took a chance on this project.


You'll need:
Plastic Ball Ornament, clear
Nativity/Christmas Character Buttons or ShrinkyDink Minis
  [Michael's: Celebrate It Christmas|Noel or Merry Minis]
*Filler: Rice,  Quinoa,  Perler beads,  plastic beads, gems,  etc. 
Glitter, optional
Hot Glue
Ribbon


First, add the Christmas characters in the ornament. I was relieved that they all fit, especially the camels. The only trouble is that these are one sided, so sometimes they'll be found by the backside which isn't as cute. You could cut off the button loop and glue to sets together back to back.

Use a funnel to add the quinoa/beads and glitter if you'd like. My glitter simply stuck to the insides via static. But it's a festive look!

Finally add hot glue around the opening and carefully replace the closure loop. Add a pretty ribbon bow if you'd like.


Hang on the tree as a surprise gift for your children, godchildren, grandchildren - any busy body. These are also great items to add to your child's tote for Keeping Quiet in the Pew. Simply roll it around in your hands to find each character.

Merry Christmas!

Autumn Brick Building Activities

There is never a day that we're not being creative, especially with our Lego and Knex bricks. Here is a free sheet to print for a month's worth of ideas for this fall/autumn.


Honoring Mary in May

As most of you know, May is dedicated to honoring Mary. Here are some of my ideas how to celebrate and honor her earthly and heavenly life. Most of these crafts are for ages 3-12.

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MARIAN CRAFTS:
This year we made the Marian Grotto's from Illuminated Ink. [We bought ours at a local store, but the company also sells a 10 pack for a great price online.] We gave one to each grandmother from the children. Not only was it enjoyable to make, but the kids loved making something so beautiful for someone special in their life. The kit includes a great booklet about the history of grottos and Our Lady of … that you chose to make.
 

My popular blog: Mary's Little Crowns Class includes printables to make a paper Mary Statue, Mother Thrice Admirable rosary to color, Offering Basket, and Marian Princess Crowns. It comes complete with a script and prayer card to print and use for a class.


Our children enjoyed creating this Ave Maria art, using construction paper scraps. It was a great cutting skills project, discussion about color families, Mary's names, crowns and more.

A marshmallow and krispy rice grotto is a fun snack project for toddlers! We used the multicolored rice cereal and toddler star puff snacks.

You can find many more Catholic Crafts on my Pinterest board:
https://www.pinterest.com/modestmommies/catholic-crafts/ 

MARY GARDENS:
Read about gardening, especially Mary Gardens at this link. In our garden, Mary is surrounded by these perennials and more. This picture is from 2015 at it's peak bloom.


There is a website about Mary Gardens called: Mary Garden of Virginal Consecration, complete with poems and drawings that I think would be a great children's project. It is very through and perfect if you want specific names of plants and their Marian association.
"Snow Angel" Coral Bells,
Pansies or "Our Lady's Delight,"
"Mary's Mantle" [Alchemilla vulgaris]
Bleeding Hearts or "Sacred Heart of Mary."
 
ROSARIES:
You might read my: Joyful Mysteries for Homeschoolers  as well as my blog about Illuminating Mysteries. I recommend to print out the Novena to Mary the Mother of God.

 

We have made "easy to thread" rosaries.
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ROSARY HOLDERS are a fun project as well!


Devotionals:
Click here for a reflection I once wrote about "Where's Mary?"
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The 7 Dolors (Sorrows) of Mary by CatholicTradition.org is a great resource.

 
 
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Prioritizing Holy Week

HolyWeek2013

Most people know I'm crafty, but some years I've been feeling burnt out. So I am humbling myself by letting go of my worries and anxieties of all that I need to accomplish. I'm dropping it all for a week of focusing on teaching my family about the most beautiful week of our liturgical year. That's at the top of my to do list. That's what I've learned this Lent. Patience and Priorities. Are you going to make it yours?


It all starts Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday 2

I always loved Catholic Icing's palm and foot craft. Finger painting is messy, but it's such a delightful way to show your children that you love them. Sometimes… it's okay to make messes. If you're not a paint person, you can trace and cut out the shape of hands and feet. It is fun to get one green handprint from all family members for a big poster or palm tree!
 
 Our Family Palm Tree!

pALMSGIVING:

- Spirit4Teens has a good article about almsgiving with ideas for all ages. For those who gave up candy, coffee, etc for Lent they suggest giving the money you would have spend on those items to charity.
- Catholic Youth Ministry.com discusses Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Alms being not just money… it's sharing our Time, Talents and Treasure. How much of your time can you give to service in your church and community? God gave us hands for more than helping ourselves!
- Biblewise.com had these great ideas:
  • Help someone in need, even if it means washing feet, dishes, clothes, etc.
  • Join or start a club that provides community service. Help beautify by planting trees, picking up garbage, or doing something that your community needs.
  • Start an Easter food drive. Easter is about the resurrection - "He is risen!" What better opportunity to uplift the lives of those in need! Usually food drives are done at Thanksgiving and Christmas. But there are people who need food throughout the year. You can donate food to a local charity organization or shelter.
  • "Resurrect" - that is, uplift! - the thoughts and actions of those around you: refuse to take offense or be brought "down" by someone's comments or attitude. Instead, lift up the general atmosphere by loving your neighbor!
- O is for Offering Box
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HOLY WEEK
2010 03 11_Lent-Easter_0003Rosary Hangers

  Ask your children to carry a wooden cross with them for the remainder of Lent. At times it will be hard or bothersome. It may get worn, dented, scratched or colored on. When asked to do something, they take their “cross” with them and offer it up. When they are wondering if they should do something questionable, such as watch a tv program, they need to ask themselves - “Would Jesus want to do this with me?” If the answer is no, then stop.
  At Easter, we will take a good look at our crosses and talk about it. Then we will grab bright paints, painting our crosses to look bright and new as Jesus’ body on Easter morning when he rose from the dead. Attach hooks near the bottom and use these as
rosary hangers.

" When you carry a Rosary, Satan has a headache.
When you use it, he collapses.
When he sees you praying it, he faints."
 
 
HOLY THURSDAY
Lessons on the Holy Eucharist
 
Homegrown Catholics: Holy Thursday MealHomegrown Catholics: Holy Thursday Meal
 
We begin our readings at sunset with The Last Supper and readings about God being the vine, and that we must attach ourselves to Him to bear fruit. Our children look forward to this special Bible time with Daddy. Then we eat grapes and bread (or round, gluten free crackers instead). Usually we bake a pan of delicious, cinnamon Communion Bread. We've had berry gelatin in wine cups. It's rather filling, so this alone is our supper before our Good Friday fast.
 
Homegrown Catholics: Holy Thursday Meal 
 
Eucharist
One of our children are usually preparing for their First Holy Eucharist, so we're going to go over a lot that they've learned. We use our Mass Kit and a home made priest's chasuble to role play. Role playing can be reenacting The Last Supper or The Liturgy of the Eucharist. Attending Mass to receive the Eucharist would be the best activity of the day!
 
Here are some favorite Holy Communion coloring pages for at home or in the pew. You can also visit My Modest Mommies' PINTEREST BOARDS to see all the other crafts and activities I've found! So many people have come up with great crafts from a monstrance made with a gold doily to a Host and Chalice with a peek-a-boo Jesus.
Jesus-Illuminated Ink first_holy_communion communion_cup_host

Happy Saints has 3 great e-Books about Eucharistic Miracles I can't wait to share with the kids! Without printing them, you can do a slideshow presentation on your computer just by scrolling to each page.
Eucharistic Miracle of AssisiEucharistic Miracle of LancianoEucharistic Miracle of Seefeld

It will certainly be a
GOOD FRIDAY
if we remember to follow this plan!
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross are already set up in our main living area.  You can read more about our Stations, the "Crosses we bear" and get printables on our LENT blog. We'll talk about the sacrifices we've made, especially those we pulled a "thorn" for from the Crown of Thorns. If time allows, we may make a Lego Good Friday Scene.

Stations Matchup
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We have some flash cards and a matching activity for the little ones to participate in. The little ones always enjoy this hands on matching game with images and symbols of The Stations of the Cross.

Make your own Crucifix

 

Our Good Friday Cake

HOLY SATURDAY
 We'll talk a little about Purgatory, but we'll be spending most of the day with family. That night I'll be getting ready for my Easter plans. It certainly isn't easy to celebrate Easter before it has arrived. For many families, they forget that Holy Saturday is still a solemn day.

Movies: The Passion of The Christ, The Animated Passion, Veggie Tales: Twas the Night Before Easter

Our World and the Eternal-p1
Discussion: Where am I headed and how do I get there from here?
Helping children learn about Heaven, Purgatory, Hell and Earth is difficult if you don't understand it yourself. While there are no definite answers, here is my interpretation of what I've learned. Click and Print each page to read. Below are also more links to enrichment activities and resources.
Our World and the Eternal-p2Our World and the Eternal-p3Our World and the Eternal-p4

Children's Books:
Adult Books:
  • After this Life: What Catholics Believe About What Happens Next by Fr. Benedict Groeschel
  • The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
  • Hungry Souls by Gerard J.M. Van Den Aardweg
  • The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn
  • The Visions of the Children by Janice Connell
Movies (parental discretion):
  • What Dreams May Come (1998)
  • Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader [Where Narnia Meets Faith
  • The Five People You Meet in Heaven
  • Heart and Souls (1993)
Life Links:
Earth
Heaven
Purgatory
Read more about visionaries who have seen Purgatory.
Hell
 

 


EASTER is a whole new liturgical season!
While Holy Week does include Easter Sunday, the Easter season lasts 50 days. That is why I want to post about Easter as a separate event.
Easter-illuminatedink
But I'll tell you the day will include opening the sacrifice bin, making resurrection rolls, and finding where the Easter Bunny left our baskets.

Have a Happy, Humble, Holy Week!

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